I find it ironic that at a time when there are articles in the Juneau Empire regarding the improvement of hiring practices within the entire state of Alaska, i.e. Alaskans for Alaskan jobs, that Capital City Fire and Rescue management is currently trying to hire two out-of-state employees. The fact is there are several employees more than qualified for the job from the local area and that doesn't seem to matter. Is this because upper management is from out of state? What is it they have against locals?

I disagree with your editorial concerning state employees' entitlement to use for personal gain the frequent flyer miles earned while traveling on state business. Let's see, there are currently over 12,000 state employees and a $16 million travel budget. You do the math. But it appears to me, if the state used those miles to help defray the cost of travel or for free tickets, the travel budget would be a whole lot less than $16 million. I believe that with the state's situation and the current budget dilemma, this would only make good common sense.

I was wondering if anybody looked into the emissions controls on fast ferries and the pollution that they produce. There was a recent study in San Francisco where they decided not to increase their ferry system because of the pollutants' effects on the environment.

The other day Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs died from complications of a car accident. He was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from his vehicle and paralyzed from the chest down. It was a very tragic thing. But this incident should serve as a reminder to all that we need to wear seat belts at all times. I believe that although his death was untimely and very tragic the legacy that he leaves us with is that seat belts do save lives.

Citizenship includes having the right to vote. The Forest Service did not give the citizens this opportunity. Instead they left it up to an advisory committee. As a result, hikers get 93 some odd trails to walk on and the ATV users get to ride the thin ice on Mendenhall Lake. No wonder people are breaking the law.